Morgan Arc- Part III End

[we_are]

Welcome back, guys! Well we're at the end of the Morgan Arc. In this arc; Coby's current character arc comes to a close, Luffy and Zoro further cement as crew, and Morgan is defeated to the surprise of absolutely no one. The world, too, is further developed, but in subtle ways.


Where we last left off, Luffy was redirecting Morgan's aggression onto himself to prevent Morgan's orders, that was, the Marines who “spoke against” him to commit suicide.



Note Zoro's reaction.




He takes Wado out of his mouth. This shows that he knows the real and only threat right now is Morgan himself and he trusts in Luffy's ability to trounce him. Though there is still some evidence of caution-- he's not relaxed but for now he'll leave the fight up to Luffy. On a side note, I love how even the Marines look nervous as shit. XD



Oda and background characters, man. I especially love the one to the far right. His expression is a cross between worry and fear, but note by the gun he is also one of the ones who would have killed himself. (and I think they all are) They all look like they're not sure who they want to win.

More interesting is Coby's reaction. Let me draw your attention all the way back to the beginning of the arc. Remember this?



Coby knows something is up, but other than that, he is convinced that the Marines are in the right because of course they are! We've seen earlier how he's realized that there can be bad Marines too, and detests what Morgan is doing, but here we have the ultimate evidence of that as Coby says as much himself.



What we see here is that Coby is acknowledging that these Marines are bad. But more importantly is what it says about Coby as a character. His dream is to be a Marine, but on his terms. He wants to be the ideal Marine in his mind. The one who helps and saves people, not tortures and abuses them. This is, in essence, these Marines not following Coby's sense of justice. And it's these kinds of bullies that Coby wants to see defeated, no matter who they are. Boy is soft as a dango but has a core of steel.

Morgan blathers on about how Luffy has no right to oppose him because Luffy doesn't have the status. Which as we've seen, Morgan is fiercely protective over. Morgan introduces himself as if his name means something (though it's sort of typical shonen fare of opponents introducing themselves which is sort of a tradition rooted in Japanese culture) and Luffy says his own name of course. We get a display of Morgan's power where he cuts the fence in half and which Luffy just isn't concerned about.

And then this shot:



I just really like the movement here and the foreshortening and the arch he's traveling in. I also really like the detailing on Luffy's fingers as well, I don't know why but it seems delicate but strong at the same time. I'm not saying it means anything I'm just stopping to admire the amazing artwork because it's my analysis and I do what I want.



Also I really love the display of his center of gravity here. That is an awesome crouch but it's still very dynamic because he's leaning forward on the balls of his feet as if to attack again. This was nothing to him but Morgan looks like an overturned turtle.


Anyway, Luffy continues to pummel Morgan. Everyone is impressed by his strength and thinking he's too strong and that Morgan can only be tossed around. Remember how we were lead to believe in the beginning that he was a threat? To people who couldn't fight back, yes. But to Luffy, not so much.

But why is he doing it? If initially it was to save the Marines from killing themselves, Morgan is sufficiently distracted now (and would likely only continue the order if Luffy doesn't finish what he started) but that's not the only reason.



Two things. Most importantly, Luffy is beating the carp out of Morgan because he made Coby disillusioned to what a Marine is. Made Coby speak out against them even though it's been his dream because Morgan is a crap Marine.

Tied into the first, Luffy is telling Morgan he's a crap Marine. That means, of course, that Luffy has his own ideas of what a good Marine is. It introduces this idea that not all Marines are bad because Luffy had to have some basis of comparison. Otherwise he might have said something like, all Marines are crap! Of course that is not so.

As Luffy proceeds to beat up Morgan, Helmeppo tells him to wait. Luffy hears him but punches Morgan again anyway because he does what he wants. Helmeppo tells him he told him to wait and then threatens to shoot Coby, trying to use the seemingly weak Coby to control the strong Luffy.

But as we know, Coby is not weak. Core of steel remember? He says he doesn't want to be in Luffy's way and, more importantly:



You tell 'em, baby! And with this line, his current character arc comes close to the end. Not a complete end, but he's gotten here from where we've seen him in the very beginning.



Quite a long way to come, isn't it? True, he stood up to Alvida, but that was with Luffy beside him and going to fight for him. In this instance, Helmeppo has the gun to his head. There is no escape for Coby--but he is not afraid to die for what he feels is right. In this case, what he feels is right is not allowing Morgan to continue oppressing these people. In short, he is dying for his dream of helping and saving people by staying out of Luffy's way.



D'awww. Dat grin. Luffy smiles so easily and I just love his expression here and the fact that he knows. Bb stop being so adorbs.



Coby is even telling him to shoot! He is not kidding around. This is standing up to bullies and for what you believe in. Where it anyone else, Coby might very well be dead for this. Fortunately, in his own unique way, Luffy isn't just anyone else.

Coby screams out a warning and then:



Firstly, Morgan is trying to continue his great thing. No one is paying attention. Luffy is not even hesitating in his attack. Why? Well for one, Luffy tends to hyper focus on what he wants right in front of him. But also,top left panel ladies and gents. One Roronoa badass Zoro is getting ready for business.

Helmeppo is worried as hell. He doesn't wanna get punched for this I think and wants to see Luffy defeated. I think in some ways because he is worried about what will happen to himself if Luffy wins but also perhaps to his dad.

Helmeppo gets clobbered, and as for Morgan, well.




Zoro takes his position at Luffy's back, taking down Morgan either during Luffy's attack or just after he finishes. Luffy doesn't have to worry about his back in the least as long as Zoro is there and he even says to leave it to him. Does anyone else get a little shiver whenever Zoro calls Luffy captain? Because I do. Loyalty and nakamaship at work. And also showing again that Zoro has decided to follow Luffy come hell or high water so long as he can still fight for his own dream.

Chapter 7 begins with Helmeppo and Morgan down for the count and the Marines aghast.



First of all, though Zoro says come and get us, there's a definite sense that this is a challenge now. They can try to arrest him but he's not going down without a fight because he's fully committed to Luffy's cause and being a pirate. Also, I really love the detail in the Marines here. It really pulls them from the realm of faceless nobodies or cannon fodder. These are real people, just as real as the townspeople or our protagonists.



Ding dong the witch is dead! Or at least incapacitated! It's great to see how happy they are. They are more than just relieved, they are busting out some serious joy right there. They are no longer in Morgan's control and you can also see that what Morgan was doing was not good at all. Especially not for Marines. The Long Live the Marines! Confirms this. They are still proud of their chosen occupation.

Luffy is a little confused that they are happy that Morgan is down but Coby gets it.



That is the face of someone whose dream is revitalized. He's no longer disillusioned by the marines because he sees how happy they are that a truly bad man is gone. These are the kinds of people and ideals he wants to join.



And then Zoro collapses. Telling readers again that he's the kind of guy that gives his all in the fight that he believes in. Which, by the by, was protecting Luffy's back.



Just another Zoro expression appreciation pic. Look at that grin. He needs to do it more often. -chin hands at it- Also relevant, he says he almost starved to death and Luffy laughs and says that he wouldn't have lasted a month. Which just shows you that Zoro is aware of his own limits but ignores them and/or tries to push past them and Luffy is perceptive. Also the people crowded by the window. I think they've just seen how much Lu can put away.

They are being fed by Rika's mother who gives them all they can eat because she is grateful that they saved the town. Zoro asks Luffy his plans and:



Yes okay, another gratuitous shot for no reason other than I think it's awesome. I just love his grins and his determination here. And the crumbs on the side of his mouth. Luffy, why so adorbs?

Anyhow, Coy freaks out as Coby is wont to do and says they're crazy and that's where the strongest gather and it's impossible for them to survive there and Zoro asks what he's worried about because Coby's not going. Coby reveals that he was worried about them because that they are his friends and before this, he had no friends and no one had ever stood up for him. Poor baby :(




But despite this past, you can see Coby's change. He has friends now, but more importantly, he has determination. Luffy and Zoro have helped him find the strength in himself to keep going.

Zoro says that Coby had better worry about himself more.



Slightly off drawing aside (is he FrankenZoro now?) this reveals that Zoro is pretty perceptive himself and knows the ways the Marines work. This is understandable considering his background as a bounty hunter. It shows that Zoro knows the world he got into.

Also the theme of actions=consequences resurface here. Whether or not Coby was kidnapped, he did do Alvida's bidding and was a pirate. Something which the Marines are pretty unforgiving about. It will be no easy task for Coby to join them.

So the Marines come in and this is one of the many reasons I love One Piece.



This is the consequence for being pirates. They can't stay. Though these Marines are grateful, they are still Marines who desire to follow orders to uphold peace which means arresting pirates. Letting them go is the only thing their justice allows them to do as good Marines. But it gets a touch harder, too.



They are still Marines. They still have to report it. This is coded as a very negative thing indeed, going by the townspeople's reactions. But why should it be? Luffy saved the town from Morgan, right? So no matter what he is, he deserves that much credit right? The answer is complicated. Not only does this foreshadow the debate of 'what is true justice' which is a HUGE theme in OP, it adds serious complexity to the world. Also, kicking them out seems a touch ungrateful.



Luffy just seems to accept this. Here it's hard to tell what emotion he's feeling and even Zoro doesn't seem entirely sure, waiting to see what Luffy will do. Looking to his captain for cues on how to act in the situation. Nonverbal communication, I love it. But you can also tell that even Coby thinks this is unjust.



You get a sense here that Coby hasn't quite processed yet that they are leaving. He is being left behind to deal with this himself. Also that it's not fair that they be shoved out like this but Coby isn't sure what to do about it.



And here comes Coby's ultimate test. He has to choose whether to say he's with their group or not. Whether to in a way betray their friendship by going for his own dream or put it in serious jeopardy by continuing it. Whether or not this is the choice, it is the choice how Coby sees it as evidenced below.



Luffy is his only friend as he's said. And man this memory of just a few moments ago weighs on him. But he has to make a choice and he chooses to be not with them. To go for his own dream and fight on his own path. Something which Luffy approves of.



Though it's kind of a shadowed smile and adds to the difficulty of this decision. Now that Coby has made this choice, they are on definite paths against one another.



Though unfortunately it's not enough just to say he isn't with them. The Marine won't allow any pirates to remain. But it speaks volumes that he's willing believe Luffy's word on the matter.



But Luffy turns the tables on the question. Coby is frozen in fear. If he doesn't do something, Luffy will completely ruin every chance he has. This is the old Coby. The Coby who begs and pleads and hopes that the bad things won't happen.



The Marine has no idea what to do here I think. He knows something is up but isn't going to make a move until it's resolved.

Also Luffy is pushing that line and is just to go over it and ruin Coby's life until




Bam! It's rather like in Harry Potter, where Neville is praised for his courage in standing up to his friends. And here Coby stands up for himself in spades and also stands up for his dream of being a marine. He won't let anyone ruin it. Not even his only friend. This is his decision to make becoming a Marine the most important thing in his life.



I just like how much is going on without words here. Rika and her mother are surprised but don't say anything. The Marine commander is still waiting for the other shoe to fall, whatever it may be and Luffy is just proud of Coby for standing up to what he believes in and making a decision even if it was hard.



Coby is part: did I really just do that? and part still a little mad...but also part I can't believe I was able to hit him. And Zoro's expression is wonderful too. It's a little proud of Coby for standing up and a little relieved but also a touch of, that was kind of an idiotic way to do it but I'm glad it worked out.


So Luffy gets into his acting and proceeds to punch the tar out of Coby.



And even the Marine Commander is startled at this. He did not see this coming. And we see his priority is keeping this town peaceful and letting people rest after the terror that was Morgan.



I just love this because it shows that Luffy does have the capacity to go too far without realizing it because he gets carried away and Zoro tempers that a little by pulling him back as a good first mate should.



Also Marine Commander isn't screwing around with what he means. He's keeping this town peaceful and kicking them out. He also acknowledges Luffy's implied decision. And it makes sense for Luffy to do it this way. Because for one thing, we all know Luffy can't lie worth a damn. He can say no but the Marines'd have to work extra hard to try and believe that. So all he can do is reinforce Coby's decision, opening the way for him to go through with his own dream. Allowing him a path in which to be proactive in the pursuit of this dream.




This is something Coby realizes. That Luffy did it for him and that Coby has relied on them again to open the path for him, but now he has to take himself on that path and start walking. Also, this image because Luffy is obviously content with this decision that he made and is probably looking forward to the next adventure. Also Zoro. Zoro, pls. Stop taunting the Marines to a fight. You're being a bully and you know it.




Go get 'em, bb. One of the Marines is hesitant, because Coby's background is suspect and they know of pirates who join the marines as spies.



And this is the closing of Coby's current character arc. This is his dream. His purpose. He's fought for it and he's determined to win it at whatever the cost and he's telling them this with all the determination and spirit he can muster. (To be specific, he wants to become a marine officer, not just a marine. Some translations indicate this better than others)



And as a testament to all they did to free this town from Morgan's spell, the commander gives almost the last he's going to give as Marine. Allowing Coby to join. Though mostly it seems because of Coby's determination to do so. He will be being watched, however, as this seems to indicate. But he will be given a chance.

Still, remember that Coby is steel and he stands up for what he believes to be right. He can't have it both ways. In other words he can't be a Marine and have Luffy as an acknowledged friend. But there is something he can do; and as Luffy and Zoro prepare to set sail, Coby catches them before they can go.




Gratitude. Reoccurring theme of OP and a huge one at that. Coby acknowledges what Luffy did for him. Acknowledges he didn't get there on his own and it was Luffy who helped him get this far. It shows a true sense of humility and honesty, well fitting for a Marine. Even though he is likely to get into trouble for doing it, it's what he feels is right. This is Coby's sense of justice.




A little out of order here, but just look at that expression. It's just pure joy and freedom. He's letting go and looking toward the bright future instead of focusing on the present reality of leaving Coby. Also that expression. Luffy, ilu. TT.TT



This is great foreshadowing of the subsequent panels, but even so it's interesting. They left before Coby asked to be a Marine. They could have overheard it, but I also think that it shows that Zoro and Luffy have confidence that Coby asked--or if not then will ask. Either way they are acknowledging him as a Marine already.




Man, what a great sendoff. Gratitude again here. This is no light thing they are doing but it's their personal justice to thank Luffy and Zoro for everything they've done, not matter how risque to do it. And they are standing behind Coby, displaying wonderful foreshadowing.




Yeah, that guy wasn't fooled for a moment. And Coby, bb, don't cry. Also actions=consequences. In this case, self imposed consequences, but that is the nature of the Marines. That is the nature of the code they live by. This is good in the sense that they are following their own sense of justice, that is the code. But it could also be said that it was this strict adherence to the code was what allowed Morgan to keep control to begin with. Either way, they did what they could do according to what they believed was right just as Coby did and Luffy and Zoro did.




And we end this arc looking forward to a new adventure and new crew! I love Luffy's expression as always, but I love Zoro's, too. Look at that pose and that grin. He's happy to be setting sail. It's not just a promise but fun!


End of Arc Wrap-Up

We've already gone over the themes of the arc in detail and character as well, so I won't lay them out here. Rather I'm going to talk about what this arc represents. Firstly, I believe it's a direct counterpoint to Alvida's arc. Just as there are bad pirates there are bad marines. But interestingly, while showing us bad pirates and bad marines, we are also being shown good pirates and good marines. But good and bad is a complex issue. What exactly is coded as good here and what is coded as bad?

Well bad is actually the easier code to pick out even if it's subtle. What is coded as bad, in these two arcs, is maintain status while standing on the backs of others. Alvida certainly did it as she stood on her own crew to maintain her 'status' of the most beautiful woman of the seas and Morgan stood on the backs of his men and the townspeople.

Compare that to people who have status and are strong. Right now, that is represented for the pirates by Shanks and for the marines by Marine Commander. They are both at the head of their companies, but their crew works under them willingly and this is what makes their status strong. They earned it through standing up for what they believe in, fighting the battles they believe needed to be fought and for the sake of others rather than themselves.

In terms of overall villainy, however, Morgan is the worst so far. Alvida was pretty bad but we expect pirates to be bad. Helmeppo was fairly rotten, too, but we've seen he was spoiled by his father's power. But a Marine is there to protect and keep the peace. That is what people trust them to do. That is what they expect them to do. But Morgan broke that trust completely. He abused his position to make the others suffer to his benefit.

What is coded as good is standing up for what you believe in no matter the consequences--which we've seen Luffy do consistently, and right now he's strong enough so the consequences aren't quite as dire. Zoro stood up for what he believed in, that is protecting the little girl and accepted the consequences. Coby stood up for what he believed in by risking his life to try and save Zoro, and later fighting for his dream. Marine Commander stood up for what he believed in by crossing Morgan.

And even Helmeppo crossed Morgan by standing up for the little girl. Even though in his case, he only stood up for it and didn't act on it because he's terrified. But the biggest award for courage goes to Rika. Because it's easier to stand up for what you believe in when you are strong or have nothing to lose. But Rika did what she thought was right without hesitation even though she can't fight at all and is completely vulnerable. And what she thought was right, by the way, was born out of gratitude for Zoro who saved her.

Gratitude is also very very important and you'll see it throughout. That's the reason Shanks' hat is so important to Luffy. Shanks lost an arm so that Luffy could live and Luffy shows his gratitude by following his dream and to return the hat. It's Zoro's gratitude to Luffy helping him for no reason at all that helps him decide to join the crew. And Coby's gratitude to Luffy for helping him that shows his steel character. Let's look at the characters who don't have gratitude.

Alvida. Morgan. Helmeppo. Sense a theme here?

There is also tied in with the theme of things not being what they appear, but what they do.

Alvida and Morgan seem to be super strong, they're really not. Moreover, their claims to superiority don't have much backing. For Alvida it's to be beautiful and she claims this and makes everyone else say it too. This belies and insecurity about her looks, something which can be taken from her and people can disagree on. For Morgan he was constantly trying to reinforce his superiority by making sure that people knew it and punishing them for any slight. That statue for instance. Compensating for something much?

Luffy, Zoro, Shanks in who they are and what they believe in and what they can do. Though Luffy doesn't have a reputation as yet, Zoro and Shanks definitely do and they earned it through their own efforts rather than on the backs of others. Luffy of course will earn his, too-- though it will be misinterpreted across the board.

But I think most importantly, it shows what kind of hero Luffy really is. He isn't the kind that simply saves people. No. He makes the choice available. Coby had two choices, serve Alvida or die, but Luffy helped open the path for Coby to make his dream come true. He gave Coby the choice in that and empowered Coby to follow his dream and Coby took that choice. He opened a path for Zoro, too. Who could keep his good name or keep his dream but not both. So he abandoned one to take up the other. This helps to make everyone the hero of their own story and to be the creators of their own destiny now that the obstacle is out of the way.

And just as Luffy opens up the path for his crew and others he meets along the way, they continue to open the path for him. For now, Zoro has Luffy's back, which allows Luffy to do what he wants without being killed-- but also reigns Luffy in when he's going too far because, hey, he's not perfect. He's not and neither is Zoro or Shanks or anyone who is coded as good and a hero, and I think that's the most important thing of all.

That's all for this week, and, indeed, this arc! There will be a special sometime later this week dealing with Zoro's past and his character and what-not, but it probably won't be so heavy. For now, see you next week where enters Nami and Buggy. Oh Buggy. Somehow no one can quit you.